After spending the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions, cornerback Kindle Vildor is heading south.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Vildor has agreed to a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This will be the 27-year-old’s fourth team since 2020, having also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.
Primarily the Lions’ third or fourth option at cornerback, Vildor logged 26 tackles and five passes defended in 22 games (four starts) during his time in Detroit.
The 2023 season was a rough one for the fifth-year player, who allowed a 114.8 passer rating in the regular season and a 121.2 rating in the playoffs. In the NFC championship game, Vildor became the subject of frustration for many Lions fans after a critical blunder led to a 51-yard reception by receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Last season, however, Vildor showed improvement, allowing a 44% completion rate and a 62.1 passer rating when targeted. He also played 221 snaps on special teams.
With Vildor out of the picture, the Lions will need to add depth at cornerback, either through free agency or next month’s draft in Green Bay.
Vildor is the second cornerback to leave the Lions in free agency this offseason. Carlton Davis signed a lucrative deal with the New England Patriots earlier this week during the league’s legal tampering period.